HR7136-119

What This Bill Does

The Special Operator Protection Act of 2026 adds a new 18 U.S.C. 120 offense protecting special operations personnel. Covered people include members of special operations forces, DOD employees or Armed Forces members designated by the Defense Secretary who conduct or participate in DOD sensitive activities, and federal law enforcement officers assigned or attached to, or performing duty with, special operations forces. Restricted personal information includes a person's name linked to workplace, face or likeness linked to name and workplace, home image linked to name and workplace, date of birth, Social Security number, home address, personal phone numbers, personal email, home fax number, and biometric data. It is unlawful to knowingly make that information publicly available about a covered person or immediate family member with intent to threaten, intimidate, or incite a crime of violence, or with intent and knowledge that the information will be used to threaten, intimidate, or facilitate a crime of violence. Penalties are up to five years, or any term of years to life if death or serious bodily injury results.

Who Benefits and How

Special operations forces, DOD sensitive-activities personnel, attached federal law enforcement officers, and their families benefit from a criminal deterrent against doxxing tied to violence. DOD security offices, federal prosecutors, and investigators benefit from a specific statutory charge for malicious publication of personal information.

Who Bears the Burden and How

People who publish restricted personal information with violent intent, online threat actors, data brokers, social media users, and activists crossing into threat facilitation face criminal liability. Federal prosecutors, investigators, courts, and DOD security offices must prove intent, family relationship, covered status, restricted information, and any resulting death or serious bodily injury.

Key Provisions

• Creates a new federal crime for publishing restricted personal information about special operations personnel or immediate family members with violent intent.
• Covers special operations forces, designated DOD sensitive-activities personnel, and federal law enforcement officers attached to special operations forces.
• Defines restricted personal information to include workplace-linked identity, home images, contact information, Social Security numbers, and biometric data.
• Provides penalties of up to five years in prison for violations.
• Provides any term of years or life imprisonment if death or serious bodily injury results.